LAN KWAI FONG HONG KONG – Any party animal who suddenly finds himself or herself in Hong Kong on Christmas eve surely would not want to spend those party dollars anywhere else other than in those chic and hip bars in Lan Kwai Fong.

Lan Kwai Fong is located in Central and part of the Western side of Hong Kong.  It is actually an L-shaped area of cobblestone with two ends adjoined by D’Aguilar Street.  It is the most popular street in Hong Kong when it comes to drinking, partying, dining, and clubbing.  A lot of occasions are celebrated here such as the annual Julyfest Beer and Food Festival, the Lan Kwai Fong Street Carnival, festivities like the Rugby Sevens, Halloween, Christmas and New Year celebrations.
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Posted in Hong Kong, Things to do |

I’m sure that at one point or another, you have come across a picture of Hong Kong whether in a book, postcard or in a particular website that you are surfing.  These photos are usually captures of the big, bold, neon signs with hordes of tourists appearing on the foreground.  More often than not, photos like these were either taken along the famous Nathan Road or taken in colorful Mongkok, a popular night market in Hong Kong and one of the highly populated districts in the city.

Mongkok actually means “busy corner” in Cantonese and Mongkok is exactly that.  True enough, this place is always packed and full of vibrant activities that are happening at every turn.  Aside from neon lights, it is also characterized by towering skyscrapers that will leave any first-time visitor open-mouthed in awe.

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Posted in Hong Kong, Things to do |

It is that magical time of the year once again when people glow in the wonderful spirit of unselfish giving and sharing. Yes, blessed Christmas is just around the corner (so to speak) and for sure there would be a lot of eager people booking those precious plane tickets and top of mind hotels in their favorite holiday destinations in Asia, that is, if they still have not done so way in advance.

Travel buffs from all corners of the world, who plan to be in Hong Kong during the holiday season, are in for a big surprise. This is because Hong Kong, also fondly called the Events Capital of Asia, will be celebrating Christmas with a bang. There are endless thrilling activities lined up for everyone who will be in the City of Neon Lights next month.

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Posted in Events, Hong Kong |

For a Christian holiday, Christmas gets surprising attention in a continent dominated by Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. For some countries, it is an after-effect of centuries of Western colonialism and Christian missionary work. For others, the commercial aspects of gift-giving and festivities encourage department stores and markets to dress up for the holidays. Still others see it as a romantic season, a time for couples and lovers to share intimate moments together.

Whatever the reason, Christmas is still celebrated the world over, and nowhere is this fact more proven than in the following major Asian cities.

Tokyo, Japan - less than 1% of Japan’s population are Christians, and December 25 is not a national holiday here. Christmas is seen more as a commercial season, a time for romance between couples and for corporations to deck their offices in lights. December is also a time for oseibo (end-of-the-year gift exchanges between companies) and boukenkai (”forget the year”) parties, and Christmas-themed parties tend to get mixed in with the celebrations.

Seoul, South Korea – South Korea recognizes Christmas as a public holiday, with 30% of the population being Christians. Even non-Christian Koreans engage in gift-giving, card-sending, and plastic tree-decorating at this time of year, and engaging lights beautify the City Hall area for people to enjoy. What’s surprising is the locals treat the season to be a romantic affair, much like Valentine’s Day.

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Posted in Asia, Events, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam |

From Thailand Night Markets, let us now move on to Hong Kong! There are times during your trip when you feel as if you have already exhausted your energies from all the walking that you are doing to explore different tourist spots or from carrying extra heavy loads of shopping bags from those must-visit department stores and boutiques. After that sumptuous dimsum dinner that you had in one of the authentic Chinese restaurants located just a few minutes away from your hotel, the thought of relaxing in your lavish hotel room can really be tempting.

Come to think of it, who in the world can resist lounging in your hotel room most especially if you are staying at the Conrad International Hotel, a hotel that is strategically located in a business and shopping district which makes it ideal for both business and holiday trips. It is so near the Pacific Place, one of the premiere shopping centers in Hong Kong.

But you would have to postpone that warm bubble bath that you are planning as you can still go for another round of shopping in numerous night markets that you can try in Hong Kong.

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Posted in Hong Kong, Things to do |

Some Asian delicacies are so one-of-a-kind, they are served only on special occasions. Some of these are made available as a culinary highlight of the festivities, while others are so culturally significant they are the very center of many celebrations.

Here are 7 eastern food fares that are served especially during Asian festivals.

Mooncake

The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month every year in Chinese communities. It coincides with many harvest festivals which occur in Western societies. It is during this time that mooncakes, a sweet moon-shaped pastry dish made with sesame seeds, lotus seed paste, and salted duck eggs, are served and exchanged as gifts.

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Posted in Asia, Food, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan |

Thrill-seeking travelers would find no shortage of haunted places to visit around Asia. After all, a whole sub-genre of movies called Asian Horror wouldn’t be so popular if cultures across the continent didn’t have their own ghostly legends.

Here are nine places in Asia that are said to be haunted.

Old Changi Hospital – once a military hospital in Singapore before being closed down some years ago, this hospital is the most haunted spot in Asia’s most ghost-ridden city. The morgue is a particular hot spot for ghost sightings of the headless and feetless kind. Recently, plans have been drawn out to convert the area into a spa resort. Will it still maintain its most haunted status by then?

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Posted in Asia, Attractions, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam |

Nothing starts a city-wide tour than by viewing the whole city from high above. Whether its from a tower, a skybridge, or even an observation wheel, a bird’s eye view of the streets, the buildings, the people, and the lights is something to be part of the memories of your trip.

Here are nine skyscraping perches which overlooks magnificent Asian cities.

Shanghai World Financial Centre

This 101-story mixed-use tower accomplishes so  many things, like being China’s tallest building, the world’s third tallest building, and the world’s tallest hotel. The observation deck on it is the world’s highest, being located on the 97th to 100th floor, some 450 meters above the ground. Visitors will have to pay 150 Yuan for the chance to see Shanghai from so far up. Sad to say, the designers were forced to abandon plans to include a Ferris wheel on top, which would have made the view from above Shanghai even Shang-higher.

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Posted in Asia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Things to do |

Hong Kong has a popular reputation for being one of the best shopping destinations in Asia. I would have to say that this reputation is well deserved. Shopping choices include the finest fashion boutiques, and huge malls that sell everything from cameras to cosmetics, clothes, shoes, jade, jewelry, etc. Visit alleyway markets and practice your bargaining powers. Include factory outlets in your itinerary and get a kick from rummaging through piles of stocks. Your patience might just reward you with interesting finds like stylish designer pieces.

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Posted in Hong Kong, Things to do |

A few Asian countries can boast of first world-levels of transportation in terms of speed, safety, and efficiency. Some Asian countries use native ingenuity to convert western modes of transport into practical vehicles for their local environment. Still other Asian countries continue to operate traditional vessels and vehicles as part of their centuries-old culture, not to mention their value as tourist attractions.

When visiting Asia, take time to visit the sights aboard these unique transports.

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Posted in Asia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Transportation |